The Black Keys haven’t lost a step
The Black Keys
Brothers
May 18, 2010
Nonesuch
Rating: 8.0/10
I’m not good at math, but it seems to me that no matter what you do there must be a finite number of note combinations to be made. So the blues, arguably America’s oldest art form, which relies heavily upon that a note that only appears in 1/5th of every scale, certainly must be recycling old hooks by now.
I feel justified in my rationale about the blues, but when I heard Brothers, I felt a bit stupid for thinking that way. But, rather than consider myself stupid, I think that my feelings are more of a reflection upon The Black Keys brilliance.
Blues has been done by everyone and their brother; Robert Johnson, The Rolling Stones, Buddy Guy, B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, etc., and each of these artists has given the genre their own flavor.
From The Horseshack to your home
I’ve made no mistake about my love for Daytrotter on this blog. It may be the best way to discover new music on the web, and it’s certainly one of the most creative music-related sites around.
I was introduced to the site by my favorite musicians of all time: Limbeck. Way back in October 2007 the So-Cal alt-rockers dropped by The Horseshack in the Quad Cities for a recording session, and because they enjoyed their time there so much they decided to release a limited edition album with more songs from that session entitled The Delicacy of Living Modestly (and it’s great, by the way).
Because, just like Limbeck, I enjoy the site so much that I can’t get enough of it, I would like to present my ten favorite sessions of all time. I j hope you enjoy these sessions as much as I do.
Though this session only has four songs from When The Devil’s Loose it retains all the power and gusto that the album provides. Bondy’s music has a magnificently understated glory to it to begin with, this subtlety is perfect for Daytrotter. And, as usual, the live nuance and charm is captured perfectly in the Rock Island studio. I love this session because of it’s simplicity: that’s all that is really needed.
Going out on top
LCD Soundsystem
This Is Happening
May 18, 2010
DFA
James Murphy claiming This Is Happening will be his last album as LCD Soundsystem is as preposterous as Michael Jordan’s first retirement. Not only is Murphy the best at what he does right now, but his three albums under the LCD moniker represent his own personal three-peat.
Now he can live his father’s dream as a baseball player (or hide his gambling problems per the commish’s edict for you conspiracy theorists) and then come back wearing number 45 and make three more incredible albums – or something equally preposterous.
However, it’s probably best to keep this review in the present and consider just how great This Is Happening actually is.
New Arcade Fire tracks
After months of anticipation and a very (very) brief leak the first songs from the upcoming Arcade Fire 12″ is out.
Pitchfork has all kinds of various news updates about the single, but what is really important, of course, are the songs themselves. The first song, “The Suburbs,” feels lighthearted and poppy, almost the opposite of “Month of May,” the second song from the 12″.
The lyrics of “The Suburbs” paint the picture of a urban dystopia running opposite the jaunty nature of the pop music they are set to. Steadily pounding piano and acoustic guitar backed by the traditionally delicate and intricate Arcade Fire instrumentation make the song seem familiar, but distinctly new.
“Month of May” provides a stark contrast, musically, to “The Suburbs.” It hits heavy from the very beginning with it’s chugging Ramones-esque guitar that seem to be more fitted for it’s companion on the 12″ single.
Win Butler’s voice and the lovely harmonies of his conspirators are the same we’ve heard before, but this one feels all new. The vocals have the same urgency that were present on “Antichrist Television Blues” mixed with the dour nature of “My Body is a Cage,” the addition of a synthesizer also lends an eerie nature to the song that reminds of “Cage.”
The songs, however, need to be heard by one and all, so without further ado I present them both courtesy Consequence of Sound:
Feel that barn floor buckle
Daytrotter Barnstormer III
Kalyx Center
Monticello, Ill.
4/30/10
The spirit of Daytrotter’s first ever Illinois barn concert was most evident in the smile that spread across Delta Spirit frontman Matt Vasquez’s face. As his eyes poured over the crowd, from the floor to those seated in the rafters of the old barn, his smile spread wider, clearly relishing the moment.
There were plenty of special moments to be had at the Kalyx Center in rural Monticello Friday evening. Fans of all ages flocked from different locales to the tiny barn outside of Monticello proper. Pearly Gate Music began the evening with a few slow jams, providing the fans sitting around the barn an ear feast. Outside fans played bocce ball, pitched tents and enjoyed what was described as “the biggest bonfire ever.” Nathaniel Rateliff and his band took over the barn floor next, providing the seated crowd with plenty of reason to cheer.
Philadelphia rockers Free Energy lived up to their name, raising the fans to their feet and turning the barn floor into a dance floor with their classic-rock-proto-punk tunes. Lead singer Paul Sprangers did his best to not only look like Joey Ramone, but to work the mic the same way the seminal punk musician did. Sprangers knew when to let the guitarists take the lead however, and their face-melting solos invigorated everyone in the crowd.
Pygmalion announces first round of bands
Today the first group of bands to play the 2010 Pygmalion Music Festival were announced. Among the main acts were Rory Erickson and Okkervil River, Cap’n Jazz, Caribou, Those Darlins, +/-, Cults, Colour Revolt, Owen and David Dondero.
The festival will take place September 22-25 in venues across Champaign-Urbana, Ill. Now in it’s sixth year of existence, I would expect more big name acts to be added as the festival dates grow closer.
Festival passes go on sale May 3 at 10 a.m. For more information about the festival visit their website at PygmalionMusicFestival.com.
Twittereviews
0.0-3.9: Never listen to this
4.0-5.9: Listen once, maybe?
6.0-6.9: It has its’ moments
7.0-7.9: It has many moments
8.0-8.9: Listen now!
9.0-10: Never stop listening to this
Albums Worth Mentioning
Volume Two, same as the first, but a little bit worse
She & Him
Volume Two
March 23, 2010
Merge
Rating: 5.6/10
The theme of this year seems to be disappointment. The second most anticipated album from 2010, The Winter of Mixed Drinks by Frightened Rabbit, was nothing short of a let down, and now I have that familiar bitter taste in my mouth about She & Him’s sophomore album.
Everything I hear in Volume Two sounds like a reproduction of a song from their first album with one major difference: It’s not as fun. The whole time I’ve been listening to this album, in my mind I’ve been inserting Volume One lyrics and it seems to fit just fine except that Zooey’s voice is falling flat off the speakers.
Maybe I’m spoiled, but there was an indefinable enthusiasm present in the voice of Zooey Deschanel on each track. This charming exuberance was never more apparent than her playful laughing on “Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?” On Volume Two we are greeted with playful melodies (i.e. “Don’t Look Back” and “Over It Over Again”) but then get a particularly lackluster performance from the lead singer.
There are some songs, like the first single “In the Sun,” and, of course, the wonderful music created by Matt Ward, that highlight this album; however, it’s just not enough to propel this album to the heights of its’ predecessor. Overall, I would classify Volume Two as yet another misstep from an incredibly talented group.
Wasilla Rock City
Portugal. The Man
American Ghetto
March 2, 2010
Equal Vision
Rating: 8.7/10
Wasilla is probably best known for giving us the indomitable republican, Sarah Palin, but it’s their second most famous export that are really making a name for themselves. Portugal. The Man burst on the scene with their album Waiter, You Vultures in 2006, a startlingly original composition of genre-bending lysergic bliss. Since 2006 the band has released four full length albums to various degrees of success.
The one constant among the band was failure to consistently stick with a specific genre. For instance 2007′s Church Mouth dwells more in the genres of blues and roots rock, whereas The Satanic Satanist from 2009 draws its’ sound from the psychadelic rock of the 70′s. Their latest effort, American Ghetto, doesn’t pick a certain genre so much as meld together their previous efforts into one cohesive style.
American Ghetto finds the band at the peak of their game, providing calm, cool psychadelia blended with quick hits of classic rock guitars. Standout tracks like “The Dead Dog” and “All My People” excel for their simplicity: cool, under control, poppy and genius.
This album is a staggering work of inventiveness; American Ghetto seems to find Portugal. The Man settled on a genre, and that’s not a bad thing at all.
Video: New Owen song
Taken from his April 16 show at Lincoln Hall with Rocky Votolato and Brooke Waggoner. Both opening artists played great sets, setting the stage for Kinsella’s set. He played a nice variety of new and old material and interjected humor into his performance.
The ending of the show, however, was quite suspect, and even frustrating. After promising the crowd one more song (as an “encore”) Kinsella proceeded to plod through various Metallica and Megadeth riffs on his acoustic guitar rather than playing any of his material. After about 20 minutes, he decided he had done enough and put his guitar down to end his show. Certainly the strangest (possibly least satisfying) ending to any show I’ve attended.
The new song is good though, hope you enjoyed it.
Local Natives aim high with debut
Local Natives
Gorilla Manor
February 16, 2010
Frenchkiss
Rating: 8.6/10
When describing Silver Lake, Calif. quintet Local Natives it is quite easy to describe their sound as “reaching for the sky.” It is an aesthetic to their music that is immediately available to the listener; that of soaring dynamism.
When the first layer of guitar is set on the opener, “Wide Eyes,” it’s understood that this song will continue to build and grow. What’s not necessarily unexpected, but learned, is that as the album grows in sonic scope it also grows on the listener.
Gorilla Manor has everything demanding music fans have come to expect in this age of illegal downloads and MySpace bands. The music is engaging, soulful, pretty and most importantly it is unique.
There aren’t many bands around that work the generic five-piece structure as well as Local Natives. The aural landscape that these gentlemen create with two guitars, a keyboard, bass and drums is quite impressive, but the real key to their larger than life sound is the beautiful three-part harmonies that chime over their post-punk instrumentation.
Comparing their vocalizations to that of Fleet Foxes has become a lazy journalist’s platitude. Certainly a similarity can be drawn, but there is a similarity to the Beach Boys as well; I’m not ready to make that leap yet.
